1. "U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.), Ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East, today bitterly condemned the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers by Hizbullah and Hamas and labeled the acts "unambiguous aggression and a malicious terrorist provocation." Ackerman noted that Hizbullah and Hamas function as terrorist proxies for Syria and Iran, and that the Israeli soldiers would not have been taken hostage without close coordination and approval by Damascus and Tehran.
"Hizbullah and Hamas are terrorist organizations with national sponsors and the international community needs to recognize these thugs and killers for what they really are: bloody-thirsty zealots opposed to peace, opposed to negotiation and opposed to settlement" Ackerman said. "If the world is serious about peace in the Middle East, then Tehran and Damascus need to be held accountable for feeding, fostering, and occasionally unleashing, these rabid, blood-spattered killers. The money, weapons and political support Hizbullah and Hamas receive from Iran and Syria are not uncontrollable or natural phenomena and the international community must demand that they stop."
"In light of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, and withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, this unprovoked aggression against Israel is completely unjustified and totally unacceptable" Ackerman added. "It's more than past time for Lebanon to be freed from foreign interference so that it can meet its obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559. The Lebanese have to become capable of policing their own borders and disarming all the militias, especially Hizbullah. Lebanon should be run by the Lebanese and not a pack of vicious religious fanatics in the service of Syria's despot or Iran's mullahs."
Ackerman argued that "these cross-border attacks on Israel should result in tough international sanctions on Syria and Iran, and the UN Security Council should immediately pursue this option. In the mean time, I have complete confidence in Israel's leaders and Israel's armed forces. They are more than up to the task of protecting the country. Israel has an absolute right to defend itself from this aggression and the Israeli Defense Forces has shown it knows how to do this."
2. "Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), a senior member of the House
International Relations Committee, issued the following statement in
response to the tragic murder and kidnapping of several Israeli
soldiers. Wexler also called on the United Nations to renew its call
for the disarmament of Hezbollah, and expressed his strong support for
Israel’s right to self-defense.
“I strongly condemn the horrific attack on Israel’s northern border carried-out by Hezbollah terrorists based in Southern Lebanon. The murder and abduction of Israeli soldiers – in conjunction with the infiltration of Israeli military bases and rocket attacks on Northern Israel – are inexcusable acts of aggression that further destabilize the Middle East. These provocations stand in stark violation of international law, and I strongly support Israel’s unequivocal right to self-defense.
It is critical that the governments of Lebanon, Iran and Syria are held accountable for this attack given their support of Hezbollah and failure to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah. I call on the UN Security Council to condemn this horrific attack, demand Lebanon’s disarmament of Hezbollah, and send a clear message to the Lebanese government that it must fill the security vacuum on its border with Israel.
I offer my strong support to Prime Minister Olmert and deepest sympathy to the families of the fallen and abducted Israeli soldiers. The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Israeli people during this difficult time.”
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